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Chayla

@cccherry26

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📍NYC
Spelman - Schwarzman / 清华 - 1913 🔺
S[T]EM 👩🏾‍💻
@crochay.co 🧶

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I’m so grateful to be recognized as a 2026 BPIA Power 50 Honoree by Black Professionals in International Affairs (@iabpia)!

It’s an honor to be named alongside an extraordinary community of leaders from across the diaspora. Thank you to my village and my ancestors for being constant sources of inspiration and encouragement… the best is yet to come ❤️🌍✨

#BPIAHonoree #BPIAPower50 by @cccherry26

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2 months ago

“清华育我
我爱清华”

我们回来了! Thank you @schwarzmanscholars for everything 💜 taken in Beijing, China by @cccherry26

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5 months ago

New year new (photos of) me! This is my take on Prism from Dispatch featuring a cosplay I made for Anime Weekend Atlanta… in 2026 I’ve resolved to stop doing things last minute so I already have a lot of ideas on how to improve the fit for next time 🙂‍↕️ @blvck.bunnie we love u!

Thank you Shane for the impromptu photoshoot! FYMTBYBF ✨🩷🩵🎶

📸 : @shane_2k00
Necklace made by @charles_cherry3 the morning of lol

#dispatch #cosplay #prism #sewing #AWA2025 taken in Anime Weekend Atlanta by @cccherry26

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9 months ago

my life in the sunshine (summer ‘25) by @cccherry26

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a year ago

“Did you really celebrate your birthday all month?”

Well, yes! #24BeGoodToMe 🥰 by @cccherry26

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2 years ago

1st fit: Miss All Sunday (Nico Robin) from One Piece, the first cosplay I’ve ever sewn from scratch!
2nd fit: Liz Thompson from Soul Eater

Always happy when I can let my geek flag fly 💜🤓❤️ taken in Javits Center by @cccherry26

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2 years ago

Semiannual (but actually annual oops) update incoming:

I live in NYC now! And have since July. If you’re in my neck of the woods be sure to say hi :) keeping myself busy with work, new interests (especially bachata, sewing, concert going, and record collecting), travel, exploring the city, and spending time with friends while making time for self care and plenty of naps in between. 2024 is flying. Cautiously optimistic about what the rest of the year brings <3 by @cccherry26

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2 years ago

Ya girl is officially one (master’s!!) degree hotter! Thank you to @schwarzmanscholars for:

- Helping me grow in my knowledge about myself as a budding leader and about the world around me
- Providing an avenue for me to travel to 18 Chinese cities/towns and 7 countries outside of China
- Allowing me to improve my Mandarin to a level I had hoped for in undergrad
- Rekindling my love for volleyball and introducing me to sports I never thought I’d play (looking at you, basketball and pickleball)
- Creating enough memories and episodes to last a lifetime and then some
- Connecting me with friends that I’ll have for life <3

So grateful to be a #TsinghuaRen and blessed to have finished the program strong. I cried like a baby all graduation week but that just means the time we spent together meant a lot! I’m excited to see my fellow Schwarzies kick butt in their respective fields across the globe 💜💜💜

+ my mom in the last slide who took the 20 hour journey to cheer me and my friends on 🫶🏾 taken in 清华大学 Tsinghua University by @cccherry26

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3 years ago

Currently finishing my last class project of the Schwarzman Scholars program (woohoo! 🎉), but in the meantime have one picture for every month I’ve been in China + a bonus💜

1. A golden Fall at Tsinghua 🍂
2. Our accidental 4 hour Great Wall hike
3. Celebrating Diwali ❤️
4. Part of my Tsinghua volleyball team!!
5. New Years in Shanghai
6. Shenzhen Sistas™ (the first visit)
7. The Xi’An Lantern Festival

There are plenty more friends not pictured here who helped make this year special, so more updates and pics to come. I miss and love y’all back home! by @cccherry26

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3 years ago

I got my scarf… it’s official! So excited to learn and grow with some wonderful people this year 💜 taken in Schwarzman College, Tsinghua, Beijing by @cccherry26

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4 years ago

1 week later, being a Spelman Alumna still hasn’t sunken in just yet. I prayed for so long to make it to the other side and now that I'm here, I've been able to reflect a bit on my time.

Just about anything I wanted to do while at Spelman, I did. 3 incredible internships, free trips across the country, professional development and scholarship programs, joining all types of organizations that I poured my all into (check LinkedIn for the laundry list 😉), meeting people I admire, and creating bonds that will last a lifetime just to name a few. To top it all off, graduating with the highest honors, as a member of 3 Honor Societies, including Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s most prestigious, and to be going from the #1 HBCU to China’s #1 university… these last four years have been a dream come true. Prayer and manifestation are both incredibly powerful things.

My experience owes me nothing. I couldn't be any more grateful for the things I learned and the people I learned them with. Thank you to everyone who prayed, called or texted with a word of encouragement, sent a care package or a pick-me-up, or even just thought of me in passing while I was within the gates. It was received and appreciated. I also thank my ancestors for everything they accomplished and fought for to get me to this point.

I wouldn't be here without my village. Please continue to pray and send positive vibes as I enter this next chapter. 💙🤍

Up next: Abu Dhabi and then Beijing!

#UndauntedByTheFight
#AlumnaStatus
#TheTearsHaveFinallyStopped
#FavorAintFair
#Romans828
#HBCUGrad
#HBCUBuzz by @cccherry26

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4 years ago

Major congratulations are in order for the 45 extensions of my heart. I’ve cried more tears of joy and pride this semester than I can count. Being your Leader meant so much to me. Your light made my job easier and the culmination of all of our efforts made my heart sooo full. I love you dearly!

You are creating the newest chapter in the book of Eta Kappa history, and there are generations of women behind you cheering for you. I know you will carry our legacy forward well. The world is yours. LMC Miss Worldwide/Radiant Wisdom/MD signing out ❤️🤍 #HKMade by @cccherry26

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4 years ago